Gretchen Terry-Leonard is at the forefront of one of the most consequential conversations of our time: the dismantling of a longevity narrative that has told generations that their best years are behind them. As a thought leader, author, and founder with over 25 years of experience in the medical space, she merges groundbreaking research with a uniquely holistic perspective rooted in both science and philosophy, building the intellectual and cultural infrastructure for a new way of understanding how we age.

With an early foundation in nutrition science, she went on to build her career at EMD Serono, navigating the systems that connect patients, physicians, and emerging biotechnology, and pioneering a health equity initiative ahead of its time. Working across HIV and infectious disease, MS and neuroimmunology, and family planning and fertility exposed her to the deeply human realities of healthcare, shaping a rare, panoramic perspective.

A health scare in her 30s prompted a reexamination of what it means to be “in your prime.” Today, her work expands that question into a broader cultural conversation. In 2025, she published Your Second Prime: Does Aging Suck, or Do We Suck at Aging?, distilling decades of clinical insight and personal reckoning into a clear framework for redefining life beyond its supposed peak. Alongside her work in longevity, she has also stepped into the evolving conversation around the ethical and human implications of artificial intelligence. She is the co-founder and Chief Strategy & Impact Officer of The Center for Deeply Human Leadership, an initiative focused on understanding AI’s impact on decision quality, brain health, and what leadership requires in this new era of advancement.